Because of their low correlation in movements to traditional investments in stocks and bonds, alternative investments are viewed as a “hedge” to help protect portfolios during sideways or down markets.

Because a child’s identity is pristine and often remains unchecked for more than a decade, it is uniquely desirable to identity thieves. Just as appealing to criminals is the fact that a Social Security number with a clean history can be attached to any name or date of birth.

In the aftermath of the MENA turmoil, Japan’s triple crisis, the U.S. debt-ceiling debacle and the latest round of the Eurozone turmoil, the world economy remains closer to “serious damage” than ever since fall 2008. Globalization is at risk.

High-profile cyber intrusions, mixed with anonymous mechanized threats and curiously timed offline periods for major corporations, have prompted conspiracy theorists to wonder if hackers are trying to undermine big business or the economy.